Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers
by Robert M. Sapolsky
Sapolsky's classic on stress physiology: the stress response evolved for sprints from lions, and humans turn it on for mortgages and traffic, damaging heart, gut, immunity, memory and sleep. He is funny, rigorous and humane, and the final chapter on what actually helps, control, predictability, outlets, social support, is the practical payoff.
Read it if…
you want to understand what chronic stress is doing to you, from the best science writer on the subject.
Skip it if…
you want a quick stress-relief guide; this is the full biology.
Three things you will actually use
- Psychological stress is physical; the body cannot tell the difference.
- Control, predictability and outlets buffer stress.
- Social support is the strongest protection.
Do this first
Identify one chronic stressor you treat as an emergency and consciously downgrade it.
Our verdict
Rigorous, funny and essential.
Compare with other Health books
The Brain's Way of Healing
Norman Doidge · Health
Hopeful and uneven; read with a clinician.
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